The All-Pro lineman isn’t certain to return in 2026 after the contract change

ByNBAUSA



Joel Bitonio, a veteran who has spent his entire career with Cleveland Brownshe is set to become a free agent next month. Before signing with Cleveland or any other team, he must decide will he play in 2026

He now has extra time to decide if he wants to return for another season with the Browns.

The original deadline to void his contract was Monday. Per Jason Lloyd of the Athletics, Cleveland and Bitonio have moved the contract invalidation date until the end of the league year in March, which gives him extra time to decide his future and makes a big financial decision easier for the team.

This is the third offseason in a row Bitonio thought about retreatingbut he stayed long enough to complete a three-year, $48 million extension. The move paid off for the Browns, who drafted him in the second round in 2014. The 34-year-old from Nevada is now a seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro.

Bitoni’s streak of seven consecutive Pro Bowls ended in 2025, but he remained an important part of the injury lineup. He was Cleveland’s only top-five starter to play in all 17 games, marking the ninth full season of his career. He played 99.72% of the offensive snaps and was ranked 21st among 79 qualifying running backs by Pro Football Focus, making him a rare bright spot in a struggling offense.

If Bitonio retires, the Browns would have $23.5 million in dead money hit against the salary cap. They plan to extend this hit for several years. In the past, the team has added gap years to contract restructurings to push cap hits into future seasons.

That being said, Bitoni’s choice to return or retire will be the biggest decision facing Cleveland.





2026-02-18 08:28:00

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